Songyang Twin Villages Chronicle: Cliffside Bookstore × Millennial Ancient Trees

📍Highlights
Cloud-Hugging Ancient Villages · 24°C Summer Retreat
Dubbed "The Last Secret of Jiangnan" by China National Geographic, Houshe Village and Chenjiapu Village nestle among 800m-altitude mountains with an average summer temperature of 24°C. The former shelters under a grove of thousand-year-old trees, while the latter boasts the avant-garde Cliffside Pioneer Bookstore. Hiking between these twin villages unlocks two poetic versions of mountain life.

🚗 Smart Travel Hacks
How to Get There:
By Train + Car:
→ Take a high-speed train to Lishui Station, then rent a car (1.5h drive to Songyang town; SUVs recommended for mountain roads).
→ From town → Houshe Village (30min winding road, navigate to "Zhuyuanxiang Houshe") → Chenjiapu Village (40min, narrow roads require caution).
Car-Free Option:
→ Take a bus from Lishui Bus Station to Songyang Xiping Town (¥25/person), then hire a local 7-seater to the villages (¥150/vehicle, negotiable).

📸 Must-Visit Spots
Houshe Village — Enchanted Ancient Tree Grove
• **Tree Labyrinth**: 20+ millennium-old Chinese yews and camphor trees form natural sunshades, with roots entwining stone paths under dappled light (📸 Wear a white dress for fairy-tale forest photos).
• **Terraced Viewpoint**: A 10-minute walk behind the village reveals unnamed platforms where rice terraces and misty peaks paint an ink-wash panorama (🌄 Sunrise mist is magical).

Chenjiapu Village — Cliffside Bohemia
• **Pioneer Bookstore · Cloud Study**: Perched on an 800m cliff, floor-to-ceiling windows frame cloud oceans—sip "Sea of Clouds Coffee" amid living landscape art (📖 Arrive early for window seats!).
• **Photography Spots**:
→ **Feiniaoji Homestay Terrace**: Overlook terraced earthen houses clinging to ridges.
→ **Ancient Trail Steps**: Capture silhouettes of villagers carrying baskets at dusk.

🍜 Mountain Cuisine Guide
Must-Try Dishes:
✅ **Salt-Baked Chicken**: Clay-oven roasted for 3 hours, crispy-skinned and tender (¥68/whole at Houshe farmhouses).
✅ **Xieli Tea-Braised Pork Knuckle**: Slow-cooked with local herbs, lip-sticking collagen (¥45 at Chenjiapu’s "Triangle Bites").
✅ **Dragon Boat Tea**: Millennium-old herbal tea with mint and cornelian cherry notes (free from villagers).
Pro Tip: Buy freshly picked **highland yellow plums** (July season), chilled for explosive sweetness!

📌 Practical Tips
**Itinerary**:
Day 1: Noon arrival at Houshe → Ancient grove hike → Sunset at terraces → Stay overnight.
Day 2: Morning clouds → 2h hike to Chenjiapu (or drive) → Bookstore → Cliffside afternoon tea.

**Stays**:
→ **Houshe · Cloud Field Lodge**: Renovated earth houses with skylights and mountain-spring tubs (¥500+/night).
→ **Chenjiapu · Feiniaoji**: 270° glass cabins for cloud-gazing (¥1200+/night, book 1 month ahead).

**Warnings**:
→ Mountain roads have sharp bends! Avoid self-driving if inexperienced; hire locals (¥300/day).
→ No convenience stores—bring mosquito repellent and snacks.
→ Slippery stone steps after rain—wear hiking shoes!

💡 Songyang Philosophy: "Slow" is the currency here—waiting for terraces to mist, books to turn, or villagers to sun-dry pickles for three years. If efficiency exhausts you, this is the antidote.